Good morning Birdland,
We know the Orioles have already been eliminated from the playoff picture, but it’s possible that their regular season is over a day or two early as well. They played a double-header with the Yankees on Friday, where the teams split the games. The Orioles walloped their hosts 10-2 in the opener while the Yankees took the nightcap 6-3. That arrangement was done to avoid the nasty weather on the east coast today, and they are still scheduled to play the finale on Sunday. But that proposition
is looking dicey, with rain expected throughout the day. MLB is not going to push a game without meaning to Monday, so it is possible that what we have already seen the last of the 2026 Orioles.
That means Trevor Rogers’ time in black and orange is over. If it is, he went out on a good note in Game 1. Craig Albernaz only used him for four innings, but they were solid. He allowed just one run and struck out four. His 2026 ERA is 4.03. The lefty will now test free agency, though he has said time and time again he would like to return to Baltimore.
If Sunday’s tilt doesn’t happen, then Leody Taveras has probably played his last game with the O’s too. The outfielder was unexpectedly helpful when the team was trying to find any sort of production from the position group. His continued playing time as the season went on was less helpful. He also had a nice showing yesteday, going 2-for-4 with two RBI in the loss.
Chris Bassitt and Andrew Kittredge are two other veterans that could walk out the door one last time as well. Bassitt was quite good post-injury, but he will entered the 2027 season as a 38-year-old, and it’s unlikely he gets less hurt as he ages. Kittredge was a reliable arm to lean on in the bullpen, but many of his peripheral numbers took a dive this season, and the Orioles are spoiled with relief options at the moment. A pricey righty that has spent some time on the IL recently probably isn’t at the top of their list.
And don’t forget about Ryan Mountcastle. He played in just eight games this year due to a couple of serious injuries. There is a team option in his contract for 2027, but it’s hard to see the Orioles picking that up given all of the other solutions they have at first base. It’s unfortunate that his time with the team is coming to an end like it is.
Most other Orioles of consequence will return in 2027, or they are at least under team control for the season. That’s a nice place to start building from. But clearly, there are adjustments needed to the roster. If Mike Elias stays, as we expect him to, and then rolls out an identical team apart from a healthy Jordan Westburg in 2027, there will be mobs at the gates of the warehouse.
So, what do they need to do? For me, they need to add an impact outfielder. I’m OK with Colton Cowser in center everyday simply because his glove is that good. But improvement is needed in either corner. I wouldn’t mind some serious competition at second base too. Jackson Holliday is not finding his ceiling the way we may have hoped, and I’m not sure they want Blaze Alexander married to any one position. On top of that, I would like a rotation upgrade, someone that you would consider for the Opening Day start, and then a left-handed reliever that can pitch high leverage innings.
That’s a lot to get done in an offseason, but if Elias wants to keep his job into 2028 he probably needs to get most of it across the finish line.
Links
Alonso says ‘unacceptable’ for O’s to miss postseason: ‘That’s not the standard here’ | Orioles.com
Alonso has been everything the Orioles could have every dreamed he would be. But we should understand that this is probably the best he will ever be during the length of this contract, so hopefully the rest of the roster can elevate their performance moving forward
This, that and the other | Roch Kubatko
Seems like a lot of Orioles are sad about missing the playoffs. They should be. The talent on this team was good enough in this weak American League. The execution, coaching, and decision-making was not. That’s an organizational failure.
Trevor Rogers loves the Orioles, but he’s excited to test free agency | The Baltimore BannerRogers’ turnaround in Baltimore is a good story for him and the Orioles’ pitching development program. Hopefully it lands him a big contract and also encourages other pitchers to join this organization in hopes of finding their secret sauce.
Orioles birthdays
Is it your birthday? Happy birthday!
- Doug Sisk turns 69 today. He spent the 1988 season in the Orioles bullpen, accumulating a 3.72 ERA over 94.1 total innings.
- Dave Duncan is 81 years old. The catcher had a two-year stint in Baltimore from 1975-76, when he was worth 0.5 bWAR as a defense-first backstop.
This day in O’s history
1956 – Orioles pitcher Charlie Beamon throws a 1-0 shutout win over the Yankees in his very first major league start.
1962 – Dave McNally shuts out the Athletics 3-0 in his first major league start.
1971 – Jim Palmer gets his 20th win of the season, becoming the fourth member of the Orioles pitching staff to do so along with McNally, Mike Cuellar, and Pat Dobson. Only one other major league team (1920 White Sox) has ever had rotation with four pitchers that had 20 or more wins in the same season.
1978 – Mike Flanagan comes within one out of a no-hitter against Cleveland. Instead, he allowed a home run to Gary Alexander, followed by two singles. Don Stanhouse is brought on to notch the save and finish up the Orioles 3-1 win.
1994 – Johnny Oates is fired as Orioles manager despite guiding his team to a 63-49 record before a strike ended the season early. It was the latest in a series of hands-on decisions by the club’s new owner Peter Angelos.
2012 – The Orioles crush the Blue Jays 12-2 thanks to the seven home runs they hit. Chris Davis and Manny Machado both go deep twice. The win keeps them on the Yankees heels for the top spot in the AL East.
2023 – The greatest third baseman in major league history, and Orioles icon, Brooks Robinson dies at the age of 86.
